UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Joins Pax Silica at India AI Impact Summit 2026, Deepens Strategic Technology Cooperation with United States
Q1. The Pax Silica coalition seeks to secure the global 'silicon stack'. Consider the following components:
1. Critical minerals
2. Semiconductor fabrication
3. Agricultural biotechnology platforms
4. AI deployment infrastructure
Which of the above are correctly identified as parts of the silicon stack covered by Pax Silica?
- Critical minerals
- Semiconductor fabrication
- Agricultural biotechnology platforms
- AI deployment infrastructure
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q2. With reference to how the Pax Silica Declaration relates to the India-U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership, consider the following statements:
1. Pax Silica is a United States-led plurilateral coalition, whereas the India-U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership is a bilateral instrument.
2. The India-U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership is framed as a bilateral addendum to the plurilateral Pax Silica Declaration.
3. Pax Silica is a China-led coalition created to counter United States supply-chain dominance.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Pax Silica is a United States-led plurilateral coalition, whereas the India-U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership is a bilateral instrument.
- The India-U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership is framed as a bilateral addendum to the plurilateral Pax Silica Declaration.
- Pax Silica is a China-led coalition created to counter United States supply-chain dominance.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. With reference to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 as compared with its predecessor summits, consider the following statements:
1. It was the fourth summit in the global AI summit series and the first to be hosted by a Global South nation.
2. It was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as a five-day summit in February 2026.
3. Unlike the earlier editions, it was attended by fewer than 50 countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was the fourth summit in the global AI summit series and the first to be hosted by a Global South nation.
- It was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as a five-day summit in February 2026.
- Unlike the earlier editions, it was attended by fewer than 50 countries.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. How many Heads of State or Government participated in the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam?
Q5. With reference to the lineage of global AI summits preceding the India AI Impact Summit 2026, consider the following statements:
1. The first summit in the series was the AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park, United Kingdom, in 2023.
2. The 2024 edition was the AI Seoul Summit, held in South Korea.
3. New Delhi 2026 is the only edition in the series ever to have been held in Asia.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The first summit in the series was the AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park, United Kingdom, in 2023.
- The 2024 edition was the AI Seoul Summit, held in South Korea.
- New Delhi 2026 is the only edition in the series ever to have been held in Asia.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 was the fourth in the global AI summit series. In which year was the first summit of this series held?
- A. 2021
- B. 2023
- C. 2024
- D. 2025
Q7. Consider the following statements about the persons and their designations connected with India's signing of the Pax Silica Declaration:
1. Ashwini Vaishnaw signed the declaration as India's Union Minister of Electronics & IT.
2. Jacob Helberg was the US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.
3. Sergio Gor was the US Ambassador to India.
4. Nirmala Sitharaman signed the Pax Silica Declaration on behalf of India.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Ashwini Vaishnaw signed the declaration as India's Union Minister of Electronics & IT.
- Jacob Helberg was the US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.
- Sergio Gor was the US Ambassador to India.
- Nirmala Sitharaman signed the Pax Silica Declaration on behalf of India.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 4 only
- D. 1 and 4
Q8. At the signing of the Pax Silica Declaration for India, the Union Minister of Electronics & IT was joined by how many named United States officials?
Q9. Consider the following statements about the India-U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership:
1. It is a bilateral Joint Statement.
2. It is framed as a bilateral addendum to the Pax Silica Declaration.
3. It was concluded during the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
4. It is a legally binding treaty registered with the United Nations.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It is a bilateral Joint Statement.
- It is framed as a bilateral addendum to the Pax Silica Declaration.
- It was concluded during the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
- It is a legally binding treaty registered with the United Nations.
- A. 3 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 1 and 2
- D. 2 and 4
Q10. Which Union ministry is the nodal ministry for India in the Pax Silica Declaration and the associated India-U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership?
- A. Ministry of External Affairs
- B. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- D. Ministry of Science and Technology
Q11. The IndiaAI Mission approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024 has its budget outlay planned to be spent over how many years?
Q12. Which single country leads the Pax Silica coalition that India joined to secure the global silicon stack and reduce supply-chain overconcentration?
- A. India
- B. United States
- C. Japan
- D. Australia